Apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles comprises a plurality of support members indexable about a central axis. The support members are positioned successively at each of a plurality of work stations. Means are provided for lifting the support members from stationary supports provided at each work station prior to the indexing of the support members.

United States Patent Renaut 51 July 25, 1972 54] APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND 2,636,293 4/1953 Gudgeon ..38/22 HEATING TEXTILE ARTICLES 1,647,501 11/1927 Braun ...38/33 3,482,341 12/1969 Kannegiesser et al. ..38/22 Inventor: v Henry Renal, we Boucher de 3,305,956 2/1967 Fleischer ..38/16 Perthes, 59 Roubw, France 3,112,847 12/1963 Brumby ..3s/s x 1 725 S14 8/1929 Harootniain. ..38/16 70 i [22] Wed 19 2,751,699 6/1956 Simpson ..38/22 [211 App]. No.: 88,464

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 895,346 5/1962 Great Britain ..38/5 [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 810,528, March 26,

1969, abandoned. Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato April 2, 1968 France Q68 19068 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. c1 ..38/22 An apparatus for Pressing and heating textile articles 5 Cl 0 71/0 D066 15 00 pm a plurality of support members indexable about a cen- 5s 1 Field of seal-611.... ..38/22 15 5 33 66 axis The suPPO" members are P sumssively each of a plurality of work stations. Means are provided for l 5 6] Rderences Cited lifting the support members from stationary supports provided at each work station prior to the indexing of the support mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS bers- 3,425,142 2/1969 Kannegiesser et a1. ..38/22 16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,606

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 APPARATUS FOR PRESSING AND HEATING TEXTILE ARTICLES The present application is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 810,528 filed on Mar. 26, I969 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles.

Apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles is known in which four supports for supporting the textile articles are arranged in a circle and are indexable about a common axis for delivering the textile articles successively to each of four work stations. Each support comprises a fabric sheet tautly mounted in a frame. Each frame is mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical direction on two carrier arms. The carrier arms are afixed to a rotatable carrier ring indexable by a mo- 'tor. By means of a complicated arrangement of cams, rollers and piston and cylinder devices, the supports are arranged to drop into a position in which they slope radially outwardly from the common axis at predetermined work stations. At the remaining work stations the supports are lifted and constrained to extend horizontally and radially outwardly from the common axis.

The arrangement for lifting and lowering the supports is complicated, requires substantial maintenance, and is expensive. There is also a danger that on indexing of the supports, a support in a sloping position, is prevented from movement by engagement with a lower fixed support, which is required for example, in the pressing work position of the apparatus.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles which substantially overcomes the disadvantages enumerated above.

A particular object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles which includes means for vertically lifting the support members for carrying textile articles before indexing in order that the support members will clear any surface that can prevent indexing.

A further object of the invention, is the provision of an apparatus which permits the support members to be maintained in the same sloping position in all work positions of the apparatus. This is achieved by the provision of an upper press plate in a work position in which the articles are pressed, which upper press plate is connected to means for moving the press plate by a ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint permits the upper press plate to conform to the sloping attitude of the supports.

According to the present invention an apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles comprises a plurality of support members disposed around and indexable about a central axis for carrying articles to be pressed and heated successively to each of a plurality of work stations, a stationary support at each work station, the support members each extending radially outwardly from the central axis and sloping downwardly from the end adjacent the central axis to the peripheral end, the support members at a work station overlying a stationary support, and means for lifting the support members, from their respective supports prior to indexing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the Figures of the accompanying schematic drawings;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective sketch indicating the relative relationship of a plurality of stationary supports arranged at work stations of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a detail, partly in cross-section, showing the means for lifting and indexing the support members.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

As shown, an apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles comprises a base 1 on which is rigidly mounted four spaced stationary supports 2, 3, 4 and 5 arranged on at each of four work stations. Some of the supports for example, supports 2 and 3, are formed as chambers of rigid or flexible material, which chambers are in communication with a vacuum pump (not shown) or a source of steam (not shown) by means of connectors 40. The chambers may be provided with electrical heating means (not shown).

Support members 6 are mounted on a rotatable carrier ring 33 by brackets 34 and are arranged to move successively, in an intermittent manner, above the four supports 2, 3, 4, 5 by means of a drive mechanism 13. Each support member 6 comprises a frame which supports a fabric sheet 7.

Referring in particular to FIG. 4, a support 21 is provided for supporting a hydraulic piston and cylinder device 20. The piston and cylinder device 20 has a piston rod 23 coaxial with the geometrical central axis of the apparatus. The free end of the piston rod 23 is screwed to the lower end of an elongate shaft 24 and the shaft 24 is slidable in spaced sleeves 25, 26. A fork with four arms 27, (only two shown) is connected to the shaft 24. The arms 27 extend horizontally outwardly from the shaft 24 in two directions at right angles to each other. Each arm 27 has an axial bore 27a which receives a pin 28. The pins 28 each extend through an elongated vertical slot 29 provided in a frame portion of the base 1 into bores in support members 30. Each support member 30 has a depending arm 30a in which is formed a through bore for supporting a shaft 31 of a roller 32.

The rollers 32 support the rotatable carrier ring 33. The support members 6 are connected to the carrier or support ring 33 at equi-spaced intervals of Each support member 6 is inclined downwardly towards its free end or distal and extends radially outwardly from the carrier ring 33.

An electric motor 36 is mounted on an upper surface of one support member 30 and has an output shaft 36' on which is mounted for rotation therewith a friction wheel 38. The periphery of the friction wheel 38 frictionally engages an upper surface of the carrier ring 33.

In operation, when it is desired to index the support members 6 to the next successive work station, the piston and cylinder device 20 is actuated to extend the piston rod 23. The vertical movement of the piston rod 23 causes the shaft 24, arms 27, pins 28 support members 30, rollers 32 and the carrier ring 33 to be moved upwardly. Movement of the carrier ring 33 upwardly causes the support members 6 also to move upwardly and clear the upper surface of supports 2, 3, 4, or 5. The electric motor 36 will also be raised since it is mounted on a support member 30. After the support members 6 have been raised, the electric motor 36 is operated. This can be an automatic operation by means of known programming means. Operation of the electric motor 36 causes the friction wheel 38 to rotate and since the friction wheel 36 is frictionally engaged with the upper surface of the carrier ring 33 rotation of the friction wheel effects rotation of the carrier ring 33. The canier ring 33 rotates smoothly over the rollers 32 and carries with it the spaced support members 6. Precise indexing can be achieved by controlling the energy supply to the electric motor 36 by micro-switches or any other known means.

At one of the work stations at which the support 3 is provided, a pressing operation takes place. At least a portion of the support 3 is in the form of a lower press plate which cooperates with an upper press plate 9 for pressing a textile article when placed therebetween on a support member 6. The upper press plate 9 is connected by means of a ball and socket joint 11 to the piston rod 10' of a piston and cylinder device 10. The ball and socket joint includes a member having a hemi-spherical head 11 which is received in a recess 41 of a pressure pad 42. The joint thus formed permits the upper press plate to automatically adjust to the angular slope of the support member 6 extending between the two press plates. The upper pres plate 9 is provided with a cover 12 for movement therewith. The cover 12 helps to retain the heat supplied at said work station.

Heat can be supplied to the supports 2, 3, 4, by any known means, for example electrical heating plates, steam heating, oil heating and so on.

In a preferred embodiment, heating of the supports is obtained by the injection of oil inside a baffle housing provided in the supporL'The wall of a reservoir 14 is heated by a resistance 15. The oil is stored under pressure in a container 16 before being distributed.

This apparatus permits the use of support members having a configuration most suitable for ironing. An adjustable member can be provided, for example, for vests which can be connected to the support members.

It is also possible to use flat rigid expansible plates, which plates are pivotally connected to movable frames.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles: a plurality of support members disposed around and indexable about a central axis for carrying articles to be pressed and heated successively to each of a plurality of work stations, a stationary support disposed at each work station, said support member extending radially outwardly from the central axis and sloping downwardly from the end adjacent the central axis to the peripheral end and wherein said support member at each work station overlies one said stationary support, means for lifting the support members from their respective stationary supports prior to indexing comprising a piston and cylinder device having a piston rod, a set of rollers carried by said piston rod and lying in a common horizontal plane distributed about said central axis, rotatable carrier ring carried by said rollers coaxially with said piston and cylinder device and whereon said support members are fixed, and means carried by said piston rod for rotationally driving said carrier ring.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at a predetermined one work station, the stationary support forms one of a pair of cooperating press plates for pressing textile articles, the second press plate being arranged above said one press plate, and means for moving the second press plate between a first position spaced from the one press plate and a second operative pressing position.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for moving said second press plate comprises a piston and cylinder device having a piston rod, and a ball and socket joint connected between the piston rod and the second press plate for permitting the second press plate to adjust to the angular slope of one of said support members when same is placed between the first and second press plates.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a cover is provided over the second press plate and attached thereto for movement therewith for conserving heat supplied to the work station.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of work stations comprises a first preparation station, a second pressing station, a third drying station and a fourth delivery station.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stationary support associated with said first work station includes a tray portion having means therein defining an inlet connectsble to a source of fluid pressure.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support for the press station includes a tray portion communicating with a source of heat.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a vertical shaft connected to said piston rod, horizontal radial arms connected to said shah, means defining a horizontal radial bore in each of said arms having rotatably mounted therein one of said rollers.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for rotationally driving said carrier ring comprises an electric motor mounted on one of said arms, and a friction disc rotatably driven by said motor and frictionally engaging a surface of said rotatable carrier ring.

10. An apparatus for pressing textile articles comprising: a fixed press plate; movable press plate disposed in opposed relationship with said fixed press plate and cooperative therewith to perform a pressing operation; mounting means mounting said movable press plate for movement towards said fixed press plate to a closed position wherein said pressing operation is carried out and away from said fixed press plate to an open position; moving means for moving said movable press plate to said open position; a rotatable support ring; a plurality of fabric trays receptive of textile articles to be treated and connected around said support ring in angularly spaced-apart relationship; drive means for rotationally driving said support ring to selectively position individual ones of said fabric trays between said press plates; a movable shaft mounted for vertical movement and having connected thereto for vertical movement therewith said drive means, support ring and fabric trays; and means for effecting vertical movement of said shaft to accordingly move said fabric trays out of contact with said press plates thereby effectively preventing interference between said fabric trays and said press plate during rotation of said fabric trays.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said moving means comprises a fluid reciprocal motor connected to said movable press plate operative in response to fluid pressure difierentials applied thereacross to alternately move said movable press plate to said open and closed positions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 1; including means in terposed between said fluid motor and said movable press plate for uniformly distributing forces between said press plates during said pressing operation.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said lastmentioned means comprises a ball-and-socket joint.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said drive means comprises a friction surface on said support ring, a rotatably mounted friction disc in frictional engagement with said friction surface, and a drive motor connected to rotationally drive said friction disc.

15. An apparatus according to claim 10, including means defining ahousing partially enclosing said movably press plate effective to prevent heat loss during said pressing operation.

16 An apparatus according to claim 10; including heating means disposed within said movable press plate for providing heat during said pressing operation.

I i t i 

1. In an apparatus for pressing and heating textile articles: a plurality of support members disposed around and indexable about a central axis for carrying articles to be pressed and heated successively to each of a plurality of work stations, a stationary support disposed at each work station, said support member extending radially outwardly from the central axis and sloping downwardly from the end adjacent the central axis to the peripheral end and wherein said support member at each work station overlies one said stationary support, means for lifting the support members from their respective stationary supports prior to indexing comprising a piston and cylinder device having a piston rod, a set of rollers carried by said piston rod and lying in a common horizontal plane distributed about said central axis, rotatable carrier ring carried by said rollers coaxially with said piston and cylinder device and whereon said support members are fixed, and means carried by said piston rod for rotationally driving said carrier ring.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at a predetermined one work station, the stationary support forms one of a pair of cooperating press plates for pressing textile articles, the second press plate being arranged above said one press plate, and means for moving the second press plate between a first position spaced from the one press plate and a second operative pressing position.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for moving said second press plate comprises a piston and cylinder device having a piston rod, and a ball and socket joint connected between the piston rod and the second press plate for permitting the second press plate to adjust to the angular slope of one of said support members when same is placed between the first and second press plates.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a cover is provided over the second press plate and attached thereto for movement therewith for conserving heat supplied to the work station.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of work stations comprises a first preparation station, a second pressing station, a third drying station and a fourth delivery station.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the stationary support associated with said first work station includes a tray portion having means therein defining an inlet connectable to a source of fluid pressure.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support for the press station includes a tray portion communicating with a source of heat.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a vertical shaft connected to said piston rod, horizontal radial arms connected to said shaft, means defining a horizontal radial bore in each of said arms having rotatably mounted therein one of said rollers.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for rotationally driving said carrier ring comprises an electric motor mounted on one of said arms, and a friction disc rotatably driven by said motor and frictionally engaging a surface of said rotatable carrier ring.
 10. An apparatus for pressing textile articles comprising: a fixed press plate; movable press plate disposed in opposed relationship with said fixed press plate and cooperative therewith to perform a pressing operation; mounting means mounting said movable press plate for movement towards said fixed press plate to a closed position wherein said pressing operation is carried out and away from said fixed press plate to an open position; moving means for moving said movable press plate to said open position; a rotatable support ring; a plurality of fabric trays receptive of textile articles to be treated and connected around said support ring in angularly spaced-apart relationship; drive means for rotationally driving said support ring to selectively position individual ones of said fabric trays between said press plates; a movable shaft mounted for vertical movement and having connected thereto for vertical movement therewith said drive means, support ring and fabric trays; and means for effecting vertical movement of said shaft to accordingly move said fabric trays out of contact with said press plates thereby effectively preventing interference between said fabric trays and said press plate during rotation of said fabric trays.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said moving means comprises a fluid reciprocal motor connected to said movable press plate operative in response to fluid pressure differentials applied thereacross to alternately move said movable press plate to said open and closed positions.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11; including means interposed between said fluid motor and said movable press plate for uniformly distributing forces between said press plates during said pressing operation.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a ball-and-socket joint.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said drive means comprises a friction surface on said support ring, a rotatably mounted friction disc in frictional engagement with said friction surface, and a drive motor connected to rotationally drive said friction disc.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 10, including means defining ahousing partially enclosing said movably press plate effective to prevent heat loss during said pressing operation. 16 An apparatus according to claim 10; including heating means disposed within said movable press plate for providing heat during said pressing operation. 